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Hockey

Three game losing skid snapped in win over Greyhounds

Sting forward Nikolay Goldobin beats Greyhounds netminder Matt Murray on a penalty shot in the first period of their match up on Friday night. Goldobin had one goal and two assists for the Sting on the night. SHAUN BISSON/THE OBSERVER/QMI AGENCY

While Sarnia Sting head coach Trevor Letowski said the team didn't play an outstanding game, their effort was enough to beat the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Friday night.

Thanks to a late goal by Bryan Moore, Sarnia was able to put their rivals away 4-3.

“We finally came out on the right end of one,” Letowski said, adding “one of our veteran players (Moore), scores a just a huge goal for us and it's a big win for our team.”

It looked like it could have been a long night for the Sting, as the Soo jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 1:58 into the game, scoring on their first shot.

The line of Nick Latta, Nikolay Goldobin, and Bryan Moore answered right back though, scoring on Sarnia's first shot of the game just under four minutes into the period.

“We've got great chemistry, we're moving the puck well,” Moore said of his line. The three have combined for 63 points on the season, and were in on all four of Sarnia's goals on the night.

Sarnia would take a 2-1 lead into the second period thanks to a Nikolay Goldobin goal, but the Greyhounds responded with a shorthanded goal by Tyler Gaudet at the 5:37 mark of the period.

Latta restored the lead for the Sting just over a minute later to give the team a one goal lead heading into the final period.

The Soo tied the game on a 4-on-4 marker just before the halfway point of the final frame, but Moore's heroics would seal the win for Sarnia at the 13:16 mark.

While Letowski said he was still concerned about the lack of secondary scoring the team has, it didn't take away from the victory at all.

“We've got to get some other guys going to string some together here, but they got it done (Friday),” he said.

Sarnia will are back in action on Saturday night when they host the Sudbury Wolves, and Letowski said that the momentum from beating the Greyhounds, who are the 7th ranked team in the CHL, will bode well for that contest.

“Hopefully we can build on this and enjoy it for now, and come back (Saturday) and put a little bit of a string of wins together,” said the coach.

Brodie Barrick got the start in net for Sarnia on Friday night and made 26 saves on 29 shots. Taylor Dupuis will get the net for the game against the Wolves.

ON TAP

Sarnia Sting vs. Sudbury Wolves

Saturday, Nov. 1, 7:05 p.m. @ RBC Centre

How they're doing:

The Wolves (5-3-3-3 on the year) are coming off of a 4-1 loss to the London Knights and will be looking to bounce back against the Sting. Not a particularly strong team this year, the Wolves are like Sarnia and rely on their first line for most of their scoring.

Players to watch:

Matthew Campagna

19, C, 4G, 21A, 15GP in 2013-2014

The playmaking centre was just named to Team OHL for the Subway Super Series against Russia and is proving why he may be a valuable part of Team Canada's world junior squad. Campagna averaged a point per game last season, but has exploded this year and will be the focus of Sarnia's number one d-pairing.

Connor Crisp

19, C, 6G, 8A, 15GP in 2013-2014

The Wolves acquired Crisp from the Otters expecting to get a big body player that was going to light things up for them on the scoreboard. While Crisp isn't providing the offense that Sudbury thought he would, he is still on pace for just under a point per game this season. The Montreal draft pick will prove trouble down low for Sarnia's young defensemen.